People who disagree with this newspaper have several easy ways to express a differing opinion.

One can pick up the phone, email us or even stop by the office.

It’s really not that hard to be heard.

For one coward, however, those options weren’t good enough. Instead of bringing his complaint to our office, this particular man decided he’d go to our reporter’s home — twice over a period of two months — to threaten her.

Yes, you read that right — her home.

Dumb move.

It gets worse, however.

This old fool said he’d “beat some sense into her if she needed it,” referring to our reporter.

When asked why he didn’t take his complaints to the office, he said he wanted to speak to her “privately.”

This old codger was apparently worked up over what he perceived as “bad things” being written about County Commissioner Phil Kieffer.

He also didn’t come alone on his second visit to the reporter’s home. That time he brought along a bit of “muscle,” a much younger man, who had little to say, but agreed with the older man and apparently was there to add to the intimidation factor.

Luckily, these two men ran into our reporter’s 6-foot, 6-inch husband and their four dogs instead of her when they came by to spew threats.

But his size didn’t stop the older guy from saying, “If I have to come back here, I’m going to make sure you hurt from this.”

If these guys, who apparently feel very strongly about Kieffer, think they are doing the commissioner any favors they are wrong.

Their behavior as Kieffer supporters isn’t flattering or helpful to Kieffer. Kieffer has stated he doesn’t know who is behind this and he hopes they will stop. He has also cooperated with the investigation being conducted by sheriffs in two counties. We thank him for that.

We also are thankful for Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie and Screven County Sheriff Mike Kile for their work on this investigation.

Anyone who would repeatedly threaten to beat someone for covering the news — or any other reason — doesn’t have all his burners firing, in our opinion.

The old man doesn’t even have sense enough to realize our reporter hasn’t written a single “bad thing” about Kieffer and his anger is misdirected. She’s simply reported some facts from county commission meetings.

We have had an editorial or two that found fault with some of Kieffer’s actions.